Focus on developing green tourism associated with preserving natural, historical and cultural values.

In recent years, Ninh Binh has become an attractive destination for domestic and foreign tourists thanks to its methodical tourism approach with a consistent strategy of developing green and sustainable tourism; community-based tourism, respecting natural values, historical values, and local culture. Therefore, Ninh Binh is always voted by international travel websites as an attractive tourist destination. Most recently, Ninh Binh was voted by the US magazine Forbes as one of the 32 best tourist destinations in 2023.

Tourists visit Trang An Eco-tourism Area. Photo: Anh Tuan

Choose sustainable development direction

Right from the early days of re-establishment of the province, Ninh Binh identified tourism as a potential industry and gave priority to its development. At each different stage, the province has had development strategies suitable to the actual conditions of the locality in order to maximize the resources and values ​​of tourism on the basis of "conservation and sustainable development".

Typically, in 2001, the Provincial Party Committee issued Resolution No. 03-NQ/TU dated December 18, 2001 on tourism development to 2010. This is considered the first specialized resolution of Ninh Binh on tourism development, which determined the shift in economic development strategy from "brown" to "green", shifting from the construction materials industry to tourism development.

In 2009, the Provincial Party Committee issued Resolution No. 15-NQ/TU on tourism development to 2020, with a vision to 2030. During this period, with the consistent viewpoint of developing tourism associated with preserving natural and cultural values, along with the Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex being officially recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural and Natural Heritage, tourism has developed remarkably with the number of visitors to tourist areas and spots increasing rapidly, services developing, creating jobs and stable income for people.

According to the Ninh Binh Department of Tourism, in 2019 (before the COVID-19 pandemic), the whole province welcomed 7.6 million tourists, of which domestic visitors reached 6.63 million, up 2% over the same period in 2018; international visitors reached 970 thousand, up 10.7% over the same period in 2018; overnight visitors reached 840,000, up 0.8% over the same period in 2018. Revenue reached 3,600 billion VND, up 12% over the same period in 2018. The province has issued many resolutions, decisions, and tourism development programs.

In particular, the Resolution of the 22nd Provincial Party Congress (term 2020-2025) has identified that investing in infrastructure to develop tourism into a spearhead economic sector is one of the three strategic breakthroughs, creating a strong economic restructuring direction; shifting from the construction materials exploitation industry to tourism development, creating a "green" growth model.

Most recently, the Provincial Party Committee issued Resolution No. 07-NQ/TU dated October 29, 2021 on developing Ninh Binh tourism in the period of 2021-2030, with a vision to 2045; the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee issued Conclusion No. 07-KL/TU dated May 12, 2021 on continuing to implement Resolution No. 02-NQ/TU dated August 17, 2016 of the Provincial Party Committee on preserving and promoting the values ​​of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage of Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex in tourism development. Based on the policies and guidelines issued by the province, sectors and localities in the province have focused on developing tourism in parallel with preserving natural landscapes, historical relics and protecting the environment.

Ninh Binh has attracted many investors to develop infrastructure for tourism and form attractive tourist areas and destinations such as: Trang An Eco-tourism Area, Tam Coc - Bich Dong Tourist Area; Van Long Wetland Nature Reserve; Cuc Phuong National Park, Thung Nham Bird Garden, Bai Dinh Pagoda... Many tourism products have also been formed, connected, creating attractive tours for tourists.

In particular, to retain tourists, localities and units have coordinated with the Management Board of tourist areas to build "civilized tourism" destinations, "safe, friendly, attractive". Security, order, environmental sanitation, food safety, at tourist areas, destinations and at tourism businesses in the province are always guaranteed.

Taking the community as the "nucleus" of tourism development

Mr. Bui Van Manh, Director of the Department of Tourism, said that Ninh Binh's consistent strategy is to develop green tourism, sustainable tourism and community-based tourism with three main pillars: People, businesses and the State. To develop tourism in the right direction, Ninh Binh is promoting communication to raise awareness among people and businesses in preserving and protecting the environment.

Accordingly, people are considered the center for developing green and sustainable tourism. When investing in renovating tourist attractions or historical and cultural relics, businesses must respect the natural elements and historical and cultural elements to the maximum to restore and develop products and services suitable to the natural conditions and protect the environmental resources at each location.

To promote the existing potential and strengths, the province has established a model of effective and close cooperation between the State, businesses and people. When tourists come to any tourist destination in Ninh Binh, they will see the preservation and protection of a green, clean and beautiful environment being actively implemented by local authorities, businesses and people.

Typically, at Tam Coc - Bich Dong tourist area, in addition to the beauty of mountains, rivers, and rice fields, the fresh environment and friendliness of the people working in tourism have created a good impression in the hearts of tourists.

Mr. Dinh Anh Toi, Vice Chairman of Ninh Hai Commune People's Committee (Hoa Lu) said: The locality coordinates with the Tam Coc - Bich Dong Tourist Area Management Board to promote the implementation of solutions to build Tam Coc - Bich Dong into a bright spot in tourism civilization. In particular, focusing on propaganda and mobilization to implement environmental sanitation work, raising awareness and service attitude of local people towards tourists when visiting Tam Coc - Bich Dong tourist site as well as other tourist sites in the area.

The campaign to build Tam Coc - Bich Dong into a bright spot in terms of civilization, culture and safety associated with environmental protection has spread. Thousands of households have taken action to build destination culture, starting with their attitude towards tourists.

Local people have become active guides and propagandists in promoting the image of tourism and the orientation of developing green tourism of the locality to tourists. At the same time, local people have coordinated with local authorities and the Management Board of the tourist area to actively implement measures to collect waste and protect the environment. Therefore, visitors to Tam Coc - Bich Dong always feel relaxed and satisfied not only by the natural beauty bestowed by nature but also by the warm and sincere welcome from local people, being immersed in a green, clean and beautiful environment.

In 2023, Ninh Binh tourism industry is expected to welcome more than 5.35 million visitors, with estimated revenue of VND 5,150 billion. By 2025, the tourism industry will fully recover as before the pandemic, Ninh Binh will become an attractive and safe destination; strive to welcome 8 million visitors; total tourism revenue is estimated at VND 8,000 billion; creating jobs for about 23,000 workers.

With methodical and correct decisions from the early days of re-establishing the province until now, it has created consensus and harmony between the government, businesses and people in developing green and sustainable tourism. This is the driving force for Ninh Binh tourism to make a breakthrough, achieving the important goals set in each stage.

Hong Giang